Page 31 of Nick

“I’m giving you a prescription for some vitamins. Do you want to know what you are having?”

“Yes, when can I find out?”

“Let me check and see if I can do it right now.”

We waited for Ashley to make a few calls. I was so excited now that I knew I was having a baby. I started to cry. I sat in the chair and couldn’t stop. My sisters tried quieting me, but all I could think of was my poor baby. He was all alone for months without me talking to him. I felt it was a boy I was having, and I was sure he would look just like his daddy. My baby was going to be a big boy.

“I have to tell Nick. Let’s go find him. Do you think he’s still in surgery?”

“He should be out by the time we get those pictures done. Follow me.”

We followed Ashley up and down hallways, then she opened a door, and we walked inside.

“Put this on.” She handed me a hospital gown, I stepped out of my dress, and my sisters laughed. I looked down and saw my stomach.

“I told you I was stupid. I thought I was gaining weight.” I lay down on the table as Ashley put some liquid stuff on me and started moving the control around, searching for the baby. We all laughed as we saw the close-up photo of my son. I didn’t know I was crying until Amber wiped the tears from my face.

“What’s this?” Ashley asked.

We all leaned in to see what was wrong. “Is that what I think it is?”

“If you think it’s another baby, then it is. This one is a girl.” I looked at my sisters, and the three of us started crying as Ashley laughed. She made all of us a copy of the babies’ photo and one for Nick. I would never keep a baby from their daddy. I remember how Axel’s father was when I told him I was pregnant. He freaked out, said he wasn’t the father, and didn’t want to ever see me again.

I haven’t seen him since. I did write him and told him he had a son but I never heard anything from him. I got dressed and waited for the photos. Ashley gave me a prescription for my vitamins, then we walked back to where the guys waited to hear about Nick.

A doctor was talking to them when we walked into the waiting room. “Nick isn’t doing good. I’m sure he’ll pull through this, but it’ll be a while. If any of you want to see him, he’s in ICU.”

“I’ll see him right now,” I said before anyone else said anything. Ashley took me to see him. He looked like he was already dead. His face was as white as a sheet, and the rest still had blood all over him. I got a warm washcloth and started cleaning the blood off him.

“You listen to me, Nick Lombardi: I have raised one child without his father around and I won’t do it again. I have this beautiful picture to show you of our babies. Yes, you heard me right. We are having twins. Julia will love her baby brother and sister.”

“But I need you to get better. I’m not saying you have to be with me. I know you aren’t ready for any of that. We can still live our separate lives, me in my house and you in yours. Maybe Julia can spend time with the babies and me…when you are away at work.”

I sat there for hours, whispering words to make him wake up, but nothing. He didn’t move, not even a bit. I got up and went to the restroom. When I came back, his hand was clutching the babies’ photo. “Are you awake?”

“Yes. Now tell me again about my babies.”

“I’m so happy you are awake. Give me that; you’re going to ruin the photo. Can you believe I’m pregnant?”

“Have you been with anyone else besides me?”

I looked at him with disdain. Here I was worried about him and he wanted proof that these babies were his. I stood up, grabbed my picture, from his hand and left.To hell with this grumpy man. He is always grumpy around me. I take that back, our one night together, he wasn’t grumpy. In fact, he was terrific.I walked outside and looked around to ensure no one was out there. It was late and chilly but I couldn’t have waited there for an Uber and have my sisters find me in this state.

I started walking home but had barely left the parking lot. I looked at my phone,It’s dead, I cursed internally.I heard someone call my name, and I stopped. I looked around, and Nick was leaning against a tree in his hospital gown.

“What the hell are you doing out here? Damn it, are you trying to kill yourself? I swear if you die and my babies don’t have a daddy, I’ll never forgive you. Axel didn’t have a father, and I spent all his life feeling guilty. I won’t forgive you if you die,” I said, rushing toward him.

“Opal, why didn’t you let me explain before you took off running? I wanted to ensure no one could claim to be their father.”

“What kind of woman do you think I am? I hadn’t had sex for eight years before I had sex with you. Why would you think I would have sex with another man?”

“I’m sorry. But I saw you with a man who had his hand low on your back.”

“Come on. I will walk you back to the hospital before you freeze to death.”

“There he is,” a nurse called out, pushing a wheelchair. I helped Nick back into the chair and told him I would see him soon.

“Come with me. I don’t like you walking alone at night. I’m staying here if you don’t follow us inside the hospital and call someone to pick you up.”

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